1. peachalulu

    peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

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    Adjectives always before verbs? Lazily swayed or swayed lazily?

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by peachalulu, Jun 25, 2012.

    I'm working on a short story and every once in a while, I come to a point where a sentence can give me issues.
    Here's one of them.
    The fringed canopy lazily swayed.
    Or The fringed canopy swayed, lazily.
    Does one of them not work , is it a matter of good grammer , or creative difference?
     
  2. SocksFox

    SocksFox Contributor Contributor Contest Winner 2023

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    Lazily swayed is an adjective.

    Swayed lazily is an adverb.

    Am I over thinking this? If I am, sorry. :rolleyes:

    - Darkkin
     
  3. Cogito

    Cogito Former Mod, Retired Supporter Contributor

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    Lazily is always an adverb, not an adjective. An adjective modifies a noun.

    An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

    In English, adjectives usually precede the noun, but can appear in other places in the sentence:

    Adverbs can appear before or after the verb. Adverbs modifying an adjective or another adverb are typically placed before the word they modify.
     
  4. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    yes, that...

    but many times, an adverb will not work or read well when placed before what it's modifying... such as in the sample, 'lazily swayed... 'swayed lazily' works/reads much better, imo... that said, placement will also depend on the sentence and context...
     
  5. minstrel

    minstrel Leader of the Insquirrelgency Supporter Contributor

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    Placement may also depend on cultural and dialect issues. There's a construction I've come to regard as Irish, because I first found it in Joyce and since in the work of other Irish writers that works like this:

    He slammed the door loudly. (Normal for me)
    He loudly slammed the door. (Also normal for me)
    He slammed loudly the door. (Irish)
     
  6. peachalulu

    peachalulu Member Reviewer Contributor

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    Thanks for the help!
     
  7. Estrade

    Estrade New Member

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    Verb before adverb feels more straightforward.

    Adverb before verb feels more poetic, which means it can end up being more purple.
     
  8. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    good point...
     

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